2014 Selway Bitteroot Wilderness Fire Complex, WBP Restoration Planting

Project:  2014 Selway Bitteroor Wilderness Fire Complex, WBP Restoration Planting

Agency/Forest or Park/District:  Powell RD, Nez Perce Forest-Clearwater National Forest, Idaho

Project coordinator:  Geoff Kaeberle, USFS

Contact:  Geoff Kaeberle, 208-935-4274, gkaeberle@fs.fed.us

Cooperators:  American Forests, Plant-a-Tree program

Source of funding/amount FHP:  $15,000 of WBP funding was received; $56,884 of in-kind services was provided by the FS (salaries and travel).  Whitebark pine restoration funds were spent as planned).  Project shared costs with partners American Forests and Plant-a-Tree program which help support tree costs. A total of approximately $26,000 supported these costs, of which $19,000 went directly for WBP seedlings. Remaining funds to support planting costs came from the Reforestation Trust (RTRT), normal appropriated dollars (NFRR), and/or CWKV funds.

Dates of restoration efforts:

Objectives: 1) Increase the WBP seedling/sapling size class/age class on approximately 100 acres of its historic range and ensure sustainable populations of whitebark pine on the Forest. 2) Utilize seed sources which display phenotypes resistant to blister rust. 3) Implement project with NEPA decision to move toward specific integrated resource analysis desired conditions.

Acres/ha treated:  85 acres; SBW Fire Complex, Beaver Ridge, Powell Ranger District

Methods:

Planting? If so, source of seedlings? Resistance?  Yes, 25,600 WBP seedlings were planted. While the seed source was not screened for rust resistance, we used seed sources from Plus trees displaying phenotypes resistant to blister rust.

Outcome:  FY 2014 planting complete. Planting included approx. 85 acres of WBP plantations in the 247 acres planted.

Monitoring since completion of the project:

Dates:

Plans for future monitoring?  Monitoring of sites with regeneration and survival surveys through year 5, to verify establishment of WBP seedlings.  Stocking and survival surveys will occur in years 1, 3 and probably 5 for natural regeneration.

Will outcome meet goals?  Yes.

Future actions/follow up:  Fire Complex still has locations for future treatment. Restoration treatment is continuing in FY2015 and potentially in FY2016.

Miscellaneous comments:  Photos are available and were shared with Partners for FY2014 reports to Regional Office.